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NewYork,NY

01 Jun 2017

New York City is, unsurprisingly, home to an extremely large and diverse group of Gooners. But as big as they are in numbers, they are even bigger in terms of passion and camaraderie. As the group's president Kurtis Powers says:

"The shared experience is really the magic of being a Gooner, in America or anywhere else."

Number of active members: "We are America's largest Arsenal Supporters Club. We meet every week to sing and chant on our our mighty Arsenal to victory. On any given week we can be as small as 100 or as large as 2000."

Where we watch matches: "We meet for every match and currently have two official home pubs in Manhattan and one in Brooklyn. Our main location is Blind Pig Bar at 233 E 14th Street, (between 2nd and 3rd in Manhattan) and you can also head just down the street O'Hanlon's at 349 E 14th St. which is between 1st and 2nd. If you are in Brooklyn, you can go to Woodwork Brooklyn at 583 Vanderbilt Ave."

Where our members hail from: "As the melting pot of America we are likely to be America's most diverse bunch of Gooners. We are of all cultures, races, religions, and nationalities."

Group’s favorite Arsenal moment: "It's impossible to have one moment that is the same for the whole group, so I've included a handful of unquestionable moments.... Bergkamp's wondergoal against Newcastle, Henry celebrating against Spurs, Cesc's winner over AC Milan at San Siro, and Michael Thomas winning the league title in injury time against Liverpool at Anfield in 1989, Keown in van Nistlerooy's face after that penalty miss at Old Trafford, and the win over Leicester City to cap the Invincibles season."

Why we are Gooners: "Each individual has a unique reason for supporting Arsenal. For some, the artistry of Dennis Bergkamp was what first endeared Arsenal to us, but it was never the last thing. Seeing the brashness and supreme confidence and skill of Henry, the Passion of Vieira, the quiet magnificence of Pires was breathtaking, yet did not dull the zeal for the club now represented for the younger generation by the unmatched creativity of Fabregas and fire of Van Persie."

"The club of course is more to us than the players who don the kit; After all, Arsène Wenger is perhaps the most recognizable person affiliated with Arsenal. But it is the men in the red and white who have always provided the moments which we all share each week. That shared experience is really the magic of being a Gooner, in America or anywhere else."

Why Americans should be Arsenal supporters: "We don’t support Arsenal because we're American, we support Arsenal because we fell in love with the club. While we are encouraged that Arsenal are taking a greater interest in the vast American fanbase here, it was not the marketing or by any means "Americanizing" of Arsenal that led us to the club. None of us can say why another would choose to follow Arsenal, but we believe that our club has always represented class and the right way of doing things, on and off the pitch: The Arsenal Way."

"Apart from that, Arsenal play the most beautiful football in all the world, in defiance of the utilitarian style employed by other sides. We believe in the motto "Victoria Concordia Crescit" or, "Victory Through Harmony." That is the spirit of Arsenal in any incarnation, and the classy, intelligent, dedicated and proud football fans of any nation should be drawn to Arsenal F.C. We American supporters follow Arsenal with the same religious devotion shown by the most dedicated fans in London or anywhere else. Perhaps that isn't why Americans should support Arsenal, but it does spell out what is required of us."

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